El Hanem sailboat was common in Egypt in the days of the monarchy (1920s-40s) when aristocrats and sophisticated travelers loved to cruise the Nile in style. They rented the boat for weeks at a time, and made their way from temple to temple enjoying the river breeze.

El Hanem boat had four to ten cabins, bathrooms and a host of servants. Dahabiya was popular amongst those who wished to enjoy Egypt at a leisurely pace, to drink in the landscapes, and peruse the monuments and villages on the riverbanks.

We have revived those elegant days, but with modern comforts and conveniences. We are proud to offer the discriminating traveler air-conditioned dahabiya: El Hanem (The Lady) which measuring 38 m x 6 m.

Many visitors come to Egypt expressly to fulfill their dream of sailing the Nile. Most of them have been obliged to do this on large, fast-moving cruise boats, this dahabiya allow you to experience the romance of the Nile in an intimate, privileged setting.

Relying on the soft river currents while dahabiya takes you back in time to a gentler, more gracious era.